TEMPO.CO, Dili - Opposition party member Rui Maria de Araujo, 50-year-old, was inaugurated as East Timor's Prime Minister yesterday, leading a 37-member Cabinet. The former Health Minister was sworn in a ceremony led by President Taur Matan Ruak at the Lahane Palace on the outskirts of the capital Dili.
Araujo replaced former guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao, who resigned early this month to allow a new generation to rule. Gusmao remains in the adminstration, positioned as Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment.
"Today marks a new history of democracy in this country," Araujo said in his inaugural speech. "Our past has come to save our future, because our predecessor, the father of country, gave us, the new generation, a great responsibility," Araujo said referring to Gusmao.
Araujo joined the opposition Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor party, or Fretilin in 2010. He was nominated to lead Gusmao's National Congress for the Reconstruction of East Timor, which holds 30 seats of the 65-member parliament.
The sixth administration period currently has 37 ministers under Araujo's command. The number was significantly reduced from 55 minister seats in the last government. However, East Timor is still struggling to develop its economy and about half of its 1.2 million people still live in poverty.
Araujo was named Health Minister by Fretilin during the first administration, then positioned as Deputy Prime Minister of Social Affairs in 2006. He was also senior adviser in the Health and Finance Ministry since 2007.
ABC NEWS | DWI ARJANTO
